(MENAFN- AzerNews) The cumulative death toll from Cyclone Freddy in southern Malawi
hit 447 as of 07:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) Saturday, while the
number of displaced people reached 362,928, Azernews reports citing
Xinhua.
The country's Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)
confirmed the figures in its sixth update Saturday evening,
revealing that 918 people have been injured and 282 are
missing.
The Malawi Defence Force (MDF), the Malawi Police Service and
rescue teams are continuing their operations. According to the
DoDMA update, the MDF is also airlifting relief items, medical
supplies and personnel to places not accessible by road.
In his televised national address Saturday evening after
visiting two affected eastern districts of Zomba and Machinga,
Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said some foreign missions,
governments, local and international organizations, companies and
individuals have responded to his appeal for support after he
declared a state of disaster in the affected districts and
cities.
He appealed for more humanitarian support, saying the situation
in the camps and areas affected by the storm is dire.
The country's Ministry of Education has extended the suspension
of schools in the southern region until March 31, as about 230
schools have been turned into holding camps for internally
displaced communities.
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